Connection device and insulator for electric wiring



June 24, 1969 A, GAZZQL. 3,452,150-

CONNECTION DEVICE AND INSULATOR FOR ELECTRIC WIRING Filed May 4, 1966 United States Patent US. Cl. 174-87 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A connection device for insulated electrical wiring which can be easily fitted on the cut end of one or several electrical wires. The body of insulating material has at least one passage for at least one insulated electrical wire end. Extending across the passage is a stripper plate composed of normally unpunctured, puncturable mate rial. Behind the stripper plate is a connection plate of conductive material for electrically engaging the bare end of the insulated Wire. A clamping means exteriorly of the insulated body engages the insulated portion of the wire to hold the wire in the connector connection device. The cut end of the wire is inserted through the passage and punctures the puncturable stripping plate, engaging the insulation and forcing the insulation back to permit the bare end of the Wire to engage the connection plate.

This inventionrelates to a connection device and insulator for electric wiring and has for one of its objects the provision of a device of this kind which can be easily fitted in position on the ends of one or several wires to insulate the same and to establish an electrical contact or connection between them.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of this character in which the insulation on the wires to be connected will be automatically pushed back or skinned to expose the bare ends of the wires by the act of merely thrusting the wires int-o the connector. It is a further object of the invention to provide means in the connector for establishing electrical contact between two or more wires by the insertion of them into the connector.

It is another object of the invention to provide improved, easily-applied clamping means by which the wires, When inserted into the connector, can be grippingly held against movement out of the connector.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the pro vision of a cap or body of insulating material such as transparent plastic, provided with passages leading into it and into which insulation-covered wires are inserted. Embedded in the body and extending across and blocking the passages at one end is a stripper plate which is composed of a puncturable or penetrable material, such as a relatively thin plastic. When the wires are inserted in the passages, bare ends on the wires will come into contact with the stripper plate and will puncture the same and these bare ends of the wires will force their Way through the holes which have been punctured in the plate by them. The insulation on the wires being relatively soft, will not puncture the stripper plate and on the advance of the bare ends of the wires through the holes which they have produced in the plate, the insulation on the Wires will be held back by contact with the plate around the holes. The bare ends of the wires that extend beyond the stripper plate will then enter spaced holes provided in a contact plate of metallic material em- 3,452,150 Patented June 24, 1969 bedded in the body or cap behind the stripper plate, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the bare ends of the wires within the insulated body or cap. Clamping means of a novel form is provided on the body or cap for gripping the wires and holding the same against displacement from the body after the wires have been inserted therein as above described.

With the above and other objects in view, I have devised the arrangement of parts to 'be described and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed,

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the improved connection device and insulator;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, taken at right angles to that of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the device before the wires have been inserted in it;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the device;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the connector and insulator;

FIG. 7 is a face view of the contact plate;

FIG. 8 shows a portion of one of the wires about to have its bare end break through the stripper plate; and

FIG. 9 shows how the bare end of the wire passes through the stripper plate and strips or holds back the insulation on the wire.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates the body or cap of the device. The same is composed of an insulating material which preferably, but not necessarily may be a transparent plastic. The shape shown in the drawing is illustrative since the cap or body may be made in various shapes dependent upon the number of wires to be accommodated in it and other factors.

Provided in the body or cap is a pair of passages 4 and 5 adapted to receive insulation-covered wires 2 and 3, each wire being covered by the insulation indicated at 12a. Extending across the inner ends of the passages 4 and 5 and embedded in the plastic body or cap, is a strip herein referred to as a stripper plate. Said strip or plate 6 is preferably imperforate and is composed of a puncturable or penetrable material such as a thin plastic. Before the wires are inserted in the body or cap the stripper plate 6 serves to block the ends of the passages 4 and 5.

Located in back of the stripper plate 6 and also embedded in the body or cap 1 is a second plate 7 which is composed of metal and hence is a conductor of electricity.

For the accommodation of the bare ends of the two wires 2 and 3, the contact plate 7 is formed with two flared openings 8 and 9 respectively which are arranged in axial alignment with the Wire passages 4 and 5. When the wires 2 and 3 are thrust into the respective passages 4 and 5 any small projecting end of the bare wire, indicated at 10, will come into contact with the face of the puncturable stripper plate 6 and will force a hole 24 (FIG. 9) through the plate, and as the inserting pressure on the wire continues, the insulation covering 12a on the who will contact the stripper plate and will be held back while the bare end of the wire continues to advance 'and finally extend into the openings or holes 8 in the contact plate 7. It is obvious that when the two Wires 2 and 3 have had their bare ends entered into the holes 8 of the plate 7, the plate will establish electrical connection between the wires within the body or cap.

The wires, inserted into the body or cap as above explained, must now be held against displacement therefrom. Therefore a clamp, generally indicated at 15, is provided. The clamp, consisting of a metallic element, roughly U-shaped in cross section, has two legs, indicated respectively at 16 and 17 the end portion of said legs being anchored or embedded in the plastic body or cap 1. The legs 16 and 17 are connected by an integral cross piece 18 which is formed with a central, elongated slot 19, provided along its opposite edges with lips 20 and 21. The opposite edges of the cross piece 18 are notched on the central line 23, as shown at 22.

The portion of the clamp 15 that is exposed on the outside of the body or cap 1 and at the end of the same, is covered with insulating material such as a soft plastic 30 as seen in FIG. 2. The position of the cross piece of the clamp prior to the insertion of the wires 2 and 3 through the slot 19, is shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6. After the wires have been inserted through the slot 19 and into the body or cap 1 in the manner previously described, the clamp is rendered effective to grip the wires as shown in FIG. 2. This result is secured by exerting pressure by the use of pliers or other tool, on the opposite sides of the clamp, as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 6. Such pressure will cause the cross piece 18 to collapse inwardly along the central line 23, the notches facilitating such inward collapse. The collapse of the cross piece as above mentioned will result in the slot being narrowed or constricted and the wires being firmly gripped between the lips 20 and 21 as clearly shown in FIG. 2. This gripping elfect is sufiicient to hold the wires against longitudinal displacement relatively to the body or cap but without penetrating or damaging the insulation on the wires.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that an improved connector and insulator is provided into which one or more wires can be inserted, and by such insertion the insulation on the wires will be stripped back and the bare ends of the wires engaged with a connection piece. Thus, after the insertion of the wires into the body of the cap the retention of the same therein requires only the squeezing of the clamp to firmly secure the wires in place.

While I have herein shown a single embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that modifications of the same may 'be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, while I have shown the cap or body accommodating two wires, the same may be arranged to accommodate more wires. Also if only one wire is to be insulated at its end, the connection plate can be eliminated and only the stripper plate 6 employed. In

"addition, while I have herein stated that the stripper plate 6 is to be imperforate before being punctured by the bare ends of the wires, such plate might be provided with holes or weakened areas to facilitate the puncturing of the same by the end of the wires. It is to be noted that the bare ends of the wires are often edged or pointed by the cutting pliers of the electrician, such as shown for example at 11 and such ends naturally facilitate the puncturing of the stripper plate. It may be further stated that the device is primarily intended for the use of solid wires such as those of 12 or 14 gauge or larger, as distinguished from stranded wires. What I claim is:

"- 1. A connection device for electric wiring comprising: a" body of insulating material provided with at least one passage for the reception of at least one insulationcovered wire, a stripper plate contained in the body and extending across said passage, said stripper plate being composed of unpunctured puncturable material adapted .4 to receive the bare end of the wire inserted in said body and pass said bare end therethrough while causing insulation on the wire to be held back, a connection means of conductive material disposed beyond the stripper plate having means for receiving and electrically engaging the said bare end of said inserted wire, and means attached to the body for gripping insulated parts of the wire to hold the same from displacement out of the body.

2. A connection device according to claim 1, wherein said body is composed of a transparent plastic, the gripping means for said wire being a clamp at one end of said 'body, said clamp having a slot through which insulated parts of said wire are adapted to extend, the clamp having lips defining edges of the slot, and between which insulation covered parts of said wire are adapted to be gripped.

3. A connection device according to claim 1, wherein said connection means is a plate embedded in said body adjacent to said stripper plate, said connection plate having a hole for receiving said bare end of said wire, said gripping means comprising a clamp having a part located outside of said body for gripping said wire and holding the same against longitudinal shifting movement.

4. A connection device according to claim 3, wherein said clamp consists of a substantially U-shaped element of malleable material having legs attached to said body, said legs being connected by an integral cross-piece located on the outside of said body, said cross-piece having a slot through which said wire is adapted to extend, said cross-piece being collapsible to thereby permit constriction of the slot and cause said wire to be gripped by the opposite edges of said slot.

5. A connection device according to claim 1, wherein said body has two passages for receiving a pair of insulated wires, the said stripper plate being puncturable by the bare ends of both wires at spaced points on said stripper plate, said stripper plate being adapted to hold back the insulation on both wires by contact of said insulation with the face of said stripper plate and to permit the bare ends of said wires to project through said stripper plate, the said connection means being embedded in said body adjacent to said stripper plate, said connection means having spaced holes into which the bare ends of said wires are adapted to enter, said gripping means comprising a clamp having legs fastened in said body, said clamp inclduing a slotted cross-piece extending between the legs through which the insulated parts of said wires are adapted to extend, said cross-piece being collapsible under squeezing pressure to constrict said slot, causing the insulated part of said wires to be gripped by opposite edges of said slot, said wires thereby being held against longitudinal displacement out of said body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 4/1964 Great Britain.

DARRELL L. CLAY, Primary Examiner.

Us. or. X.R. 

